Viewing the Grand Prix from spots off the beaten track

LONG BEACH - The hub of race weekend in Long Beach during the Toyota Grand Prix weekend will always be the course circuit bounded by Ocean Boulevard from Shoreline Drive to Chestnut Avenues.

But not all can make it into the exclusive gated and fenced community.

On the edges of the course, there are plenty of places where residents can get decent views of the action. Those who find the spots make up the modern knot-hole gang of the Toyota Grand Prix.

Some have the place scoped out in advance; others wander in by accident.

In places such as the intersection of Pine Avenue and Seaside Way, where drivers come in off a straightaway and make a hard right turn, or at The Pike parking lot, near the start of the long run down Shoreline Drive, or from several spots nestled within The Pike at Rainbow Harbor, race fans and the merely curious can get a view of the action on the cheap.

Will Stovall of Long Beach is an experienced member of the knot-hole gang. On Saturday he was showing his friend, Tom Clark, some of his favorite spots.

"I come every year," Stovall said, as he and Clark sat on a wall in a nook at The Pike off South Pine Ave. "In years past, I've got in for free."

Stovall said his secret entrances have been closed off this year, but he's on the lookout.

From their spot, Stovall and Clark figured they could hop the chain-link fence easily enough.

"It would just be a little run and jump," Clark said with a laugh.

However, the Cambridge, England, native said he figured it wasn't worth deportation if he was caught.

That didn't stop the pair from planning their imaginary adventure.

Stovall said he was trying to figure out how to start a diversionary skirmish to attract the guards' attention.

"We've even worked out the guards' personalities," Clark said, pointing out two stationed nearby.

"That guy over there, we figured he's getting paid either way, so he's not going to run very hard," Clark said. "But that one looks serious."

Clark said this was his first trip to the Toyota race.

"I've been to a few Formula 1 races in Europe," Clark said. "I paid an arm and a leg to get in."

Although Clark was enjoying the free view on Saturday, he said he and his girlfriend would probably pay to attend today's races.

Stovall said some of his other viewing spots were at the upper level of The Pike near the Cinemark theater, near the Hooters Restaurant and on a hill off Ocean Boulevard near the Breakers.

Standing near Stovall and Clark was Jackson Scott, who brought his children Steven, 9, and Maria Jose,3.

Scott said he brought the kids down to watch for a while before continuing to his mom's house for lunch.

He said he stumbled onto the viewing spot.

"We were almost going to go back, we couldn't see anything," said Scott, who at first tried to watch the race from Ocean Boulevard.

Scott said a man guided them to the spot after they had gone in search of a restroom.

Steven said his favorite part of the race was that the cars were fast.

Chris Togni, who will be moving to Long Beach from Texas later this year, was getting an advance peek at the race. Decked out in a Warr's Harley Davidson blue jean jacket, she seemed to fit in with the race crowd, but admitted she wasn't much of a fan.

Togni said she was in Long Beach on business and decided to extend her stay a couple days to check out the scene.

"I watched the race on TV last year, so I wanted to see what Long Beach is like," Togni said.

Not all the viewers had come for the race.

Jason Stewart had brought his girlfriend, Kahmayah, and sons Jalen and Elijah to Long Beach by bus from Covina to visit the Aquarium of the Pacific, only to learn that facility was closed on race weekend.

"He was pretty upset," Stewart said of his oldest son. The family was going to check out The Pike and maybe a little of the race.

Craig Mummert was visiting Long Beach from Norwalk and staked out a number of viewing spots. He said his father used to work for Toyota, and he had had plenty of chances to get free tickets when he was younger but had never taken advantage of them.

Now, instead of paying his way in, he was an honorary member of the knot-hole gang.